Infrared Receiver Transmitter System Platform UEFI BIOS Decoding
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Solution Overview
Problem
The application of infrared data transmission in system platforms like computers and smartphones is hindered by the need for hardware configurations such as embedded controllers (EC), super IO (SIO), and keyboard controllers (KBC), which are not standardized and increase hardware costs, making it difficult to implement infrared receiver/transmitter systems in these devices.
Innovation Solution
The system platform utilizes a transmission interface, an advanced configuration and power interface (ACPI), an operation system power management agent (OSPM), and a universal extensible firmware interface (UEFI) BIOS to decode and store infrared signals without requiring EC/SIO/KBC configurations, allowing for interrupt notifications and decoding of infrared signals into event data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional interface hardware (EC/SIO/KBC) is used for infrared receiver/transmitter, then infrared functionality can be achieved, but hardware cost increases and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the infrared decoding function from dedicated hardware interfaces (EC/SIO/KBC) and relocates it to the UEFI BIOS firmware layer. The infrared receiver connects through a general-purpose transmission interface, and the UEFI BIOS contains the decoding driver program that handles infrared signal decoding, eliminating the need for specialized hardware interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the UEFI BIOS serve multiple functions: it not only performs traditional system initialization and hardware configuration but also incorporates infrared signal decoding capabilities. The transmission interface is used for multiple purposes including infrared signal reception and general data transmission, reducing the need for dedicated hardware components.
2Reliability
If EC/SIO/KBC hardware is configured for infrared support, then infrared communication is enabled, but hardware cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive, specialized hardware components (EC/SIO/KBC) with a software-based solution in the UEFI BIOS layer. The infrared decoding functionality is implemented as a driver program that can be updated or modified without changing hardware, effectively using a cheaper, more flexible software component instead of expensive hardware.
3Adaptability or versatility
If infrared receiver is added to system platform, then infrared signal can be received, but hardware configuration complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The UEFI BIOS acts as an intermediary layer between the infrared receiver and the operating system. The BIOS receives infrared signals through the transmission interface, decodes them using its embedded driver program, and presents the decoded data to the operating system through standard interfaces, simplifying the overall system architecture.
Data Source
AI summary
An operation method of a system platform includes steps of: transmitting, by an infrared receiver, a received infrared signal to a transmission interface; transmitting, by the transmission interface, an interrupt notification signal to an operation system power management agent (OSPM) through an advanced configuration and power interface (ACPI); receiving, by an infrared application program of an operating system, the interrupt notification signal from the OSPM, so as to generate a system management interrupt (SMI) in a universal extensible firmware interface (UEFI) basic input output system (BIOS) to execute a system management mode (SMM) program; and executing, by the UEFI BIOS, a decoding driver program, and receiving the infrared signal from the transmission interface, so as to decode the infrared signal into event data, and store the event data in a storage device.